Road-grading machine.



PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908.

2 SHEETS-sum1.

R. G. REDPATH. ROAD GRADING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED 0002.23, 1907.

55 Vwhichconverging forwardly with 5 is a bar 6 eirte'ndnigtransversal?7 RQBERTennDrA'frn, oF'oLAT'HE, KANSAS.

' RoADcRADmc- MA'CHINE Beaz-96! Y Tall IU-.710m thug/. concemi; Y Be'it'kllown thatLlRoBERr C. REnPnTn,

I a citizen of theUnited States', residing at- )lathe A in the countyof Johnson and State.

of Kansas, have invented certain new and 'chines,-of.whic thefollowing is a Specification.`

chilies and my object is to produce a machine of y this characterv by which a roadl may be eas'yc,i quickly and symmetrically leveled or I gra e Y A further ob'ect is to produce -a road gradingl'niachine w fchjlcan expanded or contracted laterally to .accommodate roads of var ingwidth and topermito passage over or culverts. A urther'ob'ect is vto this character y which sides of the roadway may be cut away inthe event that it is desired to Widenthe vroad to roduce'a machine Vof A stil further o ject is to produce vertically adjustable wheels to be'useid when necessary` 'to' transport the tivel rom'place to place. With these hereinafter appear the invention consists in certain novel struction land scribedand ma zbetully understood-reference is to be hadY' to .the accompanying ldrawings, in

Figure 1, is a top p lan viewfof a road grading machine embodying .my invention. Y Fig.

2,1s an enlarged section taken on theline II-.-. vII of Fig.; l. Fig. 3, is an enlarged section taken on line III-III of Fig. 1. Fig/1 ,l is a vertical section on line IV-IV otFig. 1.

In the said-drawings, a air of drag frames v fare each constructed as to lows :-1 and 2 indicate parallel bars of substantial ly the same length by preference but arranged -witl1 the former projectingA forwardly beyond and terminating at its rear end short of the corre- J'sponding end of. the latter. necting the .front ends of bars 1 and 2 and the 'former and rforming .conjointlyv herewith `:ii-pointed front end for-the drag frame. 4 is a standard erectedA upon 'the drag ramecontiguous to itsepoint f Adragframe and terninating inwar thereof 'y Specification of'iett'ers Patent. applause and entre 23,1190?.

useful-:Improvements'in Road-Grading. .Ma-V

`ends .bars 1 This invention relates to road grading ma.-

anks at one or both the full grading ca acity of the machine;

ymachine inopera- Vand other'objects in view as and.V peculiarfeatures of conL 1 organization as hereinafter de-' claimed; and 1n order -t'ha't 1tf `'forwardly .fthernfroni at var-ying"r [frame and bolted upon said sta nda'rdas 'at of -the retreated June 1e; v1.9015. Vsenti No. 398,355.

in a vertical hub or sleeve 7.. It also extends outwardlyrom vthe standard for a short distance and thence downwardly and rearwardly as at 8 to the front end of the outer bar of the drag frame, Where it is rlgidly secured by bolts' 9 as shown. Near their'rear and 2 are connected by a cross plate 10 carryingan arched bracket 11. supporting and Api'voted to one end, of a cross plank `12, the' pivot 13 being a bolt which extends up'through the larchedbracket and' the plank and is engaged by a retaining nut 14.

Y To reduce Wear to the ininiinuin a flanged sleeve 15 is holt 13 and fitted in the seat plank on a washer 16 is interposed between theVbracket I11 and the lower end of the sleeve. 15.

17 isl a castel'I having its stein 1S projecting vertically upward and journaled in sleeve 7 and provided'withfan adjustable collar 19 to engage .the lower end ofl and forni a support for sleeve 7, asetscrew 2O securing the collar at the desired point of adjustment onthe stem. A spring' cotter 21 or its` cquivalernt engages the stein above the sleeve to prevent any possibility of dislocation of thi,` caster. Y'

` To stien the drag traine' and' l'orin a brace for. the standard 4 a longitudinal. bar 22 is secured at its front end to'said standard by inartto the .standard see Fig. 2. At a suit.- llilegpiint betr 22 is bent downward as at 23 andffseouged :at its: rear end to bar 1, this inclined-portion forming -a brace for a vertical bar 251i, erected upon bar 1 just forward ot 'said inclined gportion 23. The :tramespjivqtgtllito the cross plan l2 diverge angles, the angle of divergence being varied when dcsired .to accommodate ronds of ditl'crcnt widths or. thei'gparticular work to ho donc.

25 indicates a" U-shaped bracket secured centrally to the icross plank 12, and 2t? a pivoted .at its rear cnd to said bracket and equi )pcd at its 'front cnd with u shaft 2T i `with ground whccls 2X, which `w reels in conjunction with the casters 17 are adapted to be utilized in supporting the drags ofi' the ground when transporting thi` machine from onefplace to another incperae tively.`

29 is a lever iivoted to a sector 30 in line with the pivotal point of frame 2t? and provided with av forwardly projecting-hook 31 engaging the cross bar 32 of frame 26,' s'o mir of drag 'title same bolt by preference, which secures be raised or lowered, a catch mechanism 33 site sides of a vertical drum 39, i

being carried by the lever for engagement with the sector to lock the wheels at the desircd point of adjustment,

34 indicates a ring or cleins to which "an engine or horses may be attached to pull the machine,A and 35 are 'cablesl or e uivalent connections between said ring. and oops 36 secured to the frontend of the drag frames coincidently with bars 6 and 22. v

37 indicates a pair of cables secured at their front ends to ring 34 and diverging rearwardly therefrom and engaging sheaves 38 secured to plank 12 at its under side. From the shafts the` cables extendto op oy 'ournale in bearingbrackets 40 secured to t 1e rear edge ofthe plank. The shaft of thedrum is provided at its upper end withy a lever or hand wheel 41 and it will alsobe `provided with a rratchet wheelj 41l for engagement by al dog 41h pivoted to the plank to hold the drum against bach rotation and to be kickedj or otherwise tripped from engagement with lthe ratchet wheel when desired, by the person in control fwho will be stationed upon Ithe plank. y 1

'lo operate upon that por'tgin of theV roadway centrally between theA two framesy and which therefore they do not touch, l provide a trailing drag frame, the sg'ame consisting of a central plate 42 provided with .laterally projecting wings 43, there' being'fpreferably a pluralityof wi-ngs'at each sidof the plate connected together by bars 44.*" This drag frame may be arranged so as to-force dirt ,outwardly as shown ,in full lines, Fig. 1 or y"its position may be reversed for lthe purpose of forcing the dirt inwardly from opposite sides, as indicated by its position in dotted lines. The wings of the frame are provided with eye-bolts`45 connected as at 46 by rods or cables to the drag franie cross plank. Tlecurcd to the adjacent ed es ofthe drag frame bars l and 2 arel longitu( inal bars 47 and 4i?, which carry track rails 49" for adjustable carriages, cach insisting of a bed 50 cornisponding npprofkimatclj.' in form to Athe front end of the pivolpd drag frames and pro'videid with hooks 5l `and 52 rifspcctively engagingv lhc inner and outer track rails 49. l i- 53 are angle bracketssecared' to the carL .riagcs and 54 ,vertically slotted brackets at# tached to the carriages forward of angle brackets 53. E 'i are barsl pivoted at their rear ends toe brackets 53 and extending through the slotted brackc y54 so to be capable of vertical adj ustluentltherein. The bars ari*l bent so' as ipo dispose ,their enilsi'oilward of -the slotted brackets ifnward ol the bars fl. and are`= equipped :(lt'siich jends with-:cutting disks "56 wh ich proiiectforwardly beyond'thn front ends I frames `,sothat when lil e machine is of the dra.,

expanded to its` full width the forward ends of the disks shall be disposed apart a distance equal to the width of the machine at its widest point and thus be adapted for cutting'away the bank at the sides of the road to increase the width of the roadway to the full capacity of vthe 'machina the A slotted bracketsbeing equipped withA set scrcv, 54 forengagement with the openings 54h, 1n bars 55 for the purpose of securing` the disks with their cutting edges below the plane of the drag frames if it he desired to provide shallow gutters or channels in the roadway for/drainage for other purposes. I y

' To longitudinally adjustthe-carriages for the purpose ofcausing .the disks to operate at varying distances apart," endless chains 57 are 'arranged longitudinally of'" the drag frames and the carriages and are secured rigidly to brabket's 57a carried by the latter, the @chains at their front ends engaging sprocket wheels 58 jo'urnaled in brackets 59 and se'c'ured 'to the bars Gand at their rear ends ,engage sprocket wheels 61 mounted on transverse shafts` 62 journaled'fin bearing boxes" (i3-secured to the drag frame contiguons to the cross plank. 64are worm ,wheels secured on said shafts and engaging yertical. worin. shafts 65 journaled'=mfstandards 66 secured to the-outer bars 2 of the d'rag'f frames, and provided at their upper ends withhand wheels 67 the operation of which; in one direction or theother results in. sliding the carriagesforward or rearward'so jas to dispose the l. cutting disks at varying distances apart.v i

Assuming that it is desired to move the machine to the road to be graded, the person in control first vertically adjusts the casters so tohirripose the weight of the fron't ends of the drag frames thereon. He then throws lever 29 forward, thissraction resulting in utilizing the wheels 23 as a fulca'fiunso as to raise the rear ends of the pivoted drag frames slightly ofl' the gro-und,.the catch mechanism automatically securing the frames in this position."` He then trips thel pawl 41l and,

startsthe tractionlengmegr horses coulhiled` to ring 34, the result ol su( ,i action unwlndiug'cables 37 from tlie drum and swinging the| `-pivotad l drag frames inwarr until they are subs. ntially nu'al'lel, tl-iriasters swinging around under'i tially in circlcs-strudk from the'piqvotal points 13 of their res )ective drag frames. Asesoon as the frainfes llave attaiuedthe ositioiil described, the person in control will force the pawl into engagement with ratchet 4] l so as tofprevent any undue slacken-ing of cables 37. v

As arranged the machine can be drawn over a narrow roadway or over any-.ordi11a1y bridge or culvert. -When the 'road to be graded is reached the operator tri ps the catch mechanism fso as to trike the'weight ofthe prefenably` )ars o, so as itiftidycl substan the sponge ground. The engine or horses are then startedforward and the frictional resistance of to swi outwardly at'their front endsas they vmove orward. When they have 'swung apart at their front ends` the -re uired distance, the operator grasps hand e 41 and turns the cables 3'7, lthe length taken Vup or rewound u on the v'drums depending' on the ydistance W ich `the front ends of the pivoted drag frames 'can moveapart, that is to sayas the length of the cables from ring 34 to sheaves 38 determme's'the angleof cables 35 tothe longitudinal center 'of the road, they likewise determine the distance apart of the outer ends of' said cables 35. As the machine travels over the ground thebars land 2`-act 1n the usual manner'of inclined. drags, that'is.

to sayvthey cause the loose earth'to move inward so as to fill de ressions over which the drags pass, Vthe surp us-earthbeing pushed to said low portion of the roadway,

the center of the laterally in op drag frame un ter of the road road and again dlstributed osite directions by-the trailing ess 'it is desired that the cens'hall be left itshighest point,

in which event the trailing'drag frame may that the center of be omitted'. In the event the roadway .is low it may be advisable to reverse'the osition of the'trailin dragl frame (see dotted lines) sothat it shall??r also tend to draw `the surface earth inward soas to fill In case theroad is high at one ormore points parallel to the center ofthe roadway and is packed hard at such points, the operator can in a manner hereinbefore explained shift the carriages so as todispose the cutting disks .56 in longitudinal alinement with said ridges so that as the machine is drawn along the disk shall cut away the ridge, the earth being leveled behind the disks by the drag frames. If it be desired to cut belowthe level ofthe drag frames, the disks can' be `depressed and so secured by the -In the event means hereinbefore described.

y, that the earth has fallen from a bank or :`,banks on the roadway so .as to undesirabl fnarrow the same, and assuming that suoli roadway in width equals the machine when' expanded to its full extent, the operatorcan shlft the cutting disks to their extreme forward positions so that they shall cut away suchbanked earth and thus permit the front ends of the pivoted drag frames to operate against the face of the bank and level or grade the road in one peration for its entire width. If it be desir to produce a gutter at one or both sides of the roadway, the maf Y chine can be sustained chiex'iy by wheels 17 and 28 and one or .both

of the cutting disks drag frames on the ground causes them drum so as to take up .a portion ofthe spacebetween and pivotally conne pair of drag Aas the case-maybe, 'depressed below the surl face ofthe road-way so that as the machine 1s drawn along one or more gutters shall be out therein. y l l. 'l

From the above descriptionit will be ap` 7o arent that .I Vhave produced a machine ern-- bod 'ng the features of advantageenumerate vas desirable; and I wish itfto-beun.- vderstood -that Idonotdesire to be restricted' to 4the exact details of construction shown'h75'. vanddescribedas obvious nriodiiicationsl will ,suggest 'themselves to one skilled in lthe Iart.

- Having thus describedfthe inventionfwhat I claim-las new and desire to -secure byLetters Patent, is 1+ 4 1. lA road l; ;rading machine, com risinga pair ofdrag frames, a cross :plank ridginn` vthe space' betweenand pivotally connecte vto said frames, .connections connected togetherattheir frontor inner-ends'andat their '35 outer. ends to the drag framesforward of the Y cross plank, and a pair of rearwardly diverg- 'in'gcable's "connected at -their front ends to .the inner ends ofthe connection and to cross l'ank at theirrear e ds. 90' l 2.- K road'` rading machine, com rising a.,v pair of drag vramea'a cross plank yridgi the space between and pivotallyconnecte to said frames,- conne'ctions connected together at 4theirlront or inner ends and at 95 their .outer ends to the'drag frames forward of thefcross plank, .a .pair of rearwardly di ver ing cables connected Vat their front ends to t einner'ends of the connections and .to the' cross plank at their rear ends, and means to 100 pay out or take up 4said Acables siinultane ously.l v u l 3,.A A road4 radingmachine, comprisingxa pair of drag gr-ames, a cross plank' brid to said frames, connections connected together at their front or inner ends andat their outer'ends to -tlie drag frames forward of the cross plank, .a pair of rearwardly diver "ng cables connected at their front ends -1-10 to jt e inner ends of -the connections .and -to the cross plank at their rear ends, and a drag frame" rearward of land 'coupled to the cross plank and adapted to o erate upon that portion of theroadway' etween vthe .pivoteddzrag frames.

4,. A road grading machine, comprisin y a pair of irag frames, .a cross plank bridgmo the space between anid pivotally connecte to said/iframes, connections connected toinner ends and at their. outer ends to theJ Adrag frames forward of the. cross plank,far pair of rearwardly diverging cables connected at their frontends to the inner ends of fthe connections and to `the cross plank at their` rear ends, and a cutting disk movable with each drag frame.

5. A road rading machine, com risin a rames, across plank ridgn the space between and pivotally connecte 130 to said frames, connections connected together 'at their front or inner ends and at their outer ends to the-drag frames forward of the cross plank, a pair of rearwardly di- 5 verging cables connected at ltheir front ends to the inner ends of the connections and to the cross plank at their rear ends, and cutting disks movable .with the drag frames and longitudinally adjustable thereof.

6. A road grading machine comprising a pair of drag frames, a cross plank bridging the space between and pivotally connected to/said frames, connections connected together at their front or inner ends and at l5 their outer ends to the diag frames forward of the cross plank, a pair of rearwardly digverging cables connected at their front ends ,to the inner ends of the connections and to Athe cross plank at their reai' ends, and vertically adjustable cutting disks movable with the drag frames. t

7. A road rading machine comprising a pair of drag rames, a cross plank bridging the space between and pivotally connected to said frames, connections connected together at their front or inner ends and at their outer ends to the drag frames forward of the cross plank, .a pair of rearwardly di- 3 verging cables'conneeted at their Afront ends 30. tothe inner ends of the connections and to the cross plank at ,their rear ends, ,and cutf' ting disks movable with the drag frames and grvertically and longitudinal-ly adjustable with i `respect thereto. l 35, f 8. A road grading machine comprising a Qpainof drag frames, a cross plank bridging thespaee .between ,and pivotally connected to said frames, connections connected together attheir front or inner ends a,and at ,l 4Q theironter 'ends to the drag frames forwardY of the cross plank,fa pair" of rearwardly diverging cables connected at their front ends tothe inner ends of the connections and to the crossfplank at their rear ends, and cari i'iages longitudinally adjustable on the drag iframes and equipped with i-cuttingrdisk inward of the drag tramesf 9. A road Grading machine, comprisingA a pair oi drag frames, a cross plank bridging the space .between and pivotally connected to said frames, connectionsconneeted to'- getherat their front yor inner ends and at their outer ends to' the drag frames forward of the cross plank, -a pair ofrearwardly di, verging cablesA connected at their front ends to the inner ends ofthe connections and to the cross `plank.at #their rear ends, `and carriagcs longitudinally adjustable'on the drag frames and e uippeil with verticallyadjustable cutting disks inward oftl 'drag frame-s.

10. A road grading machine comprising a iially adjustable on the drag frames, bars pivoted at their 'ends to the carriages, and cuttingl disks 'carried by said bars and disposed at t'he inner sides of their respective drag frames. I

1].. A road grading machine 'comprising a pair of drag frames, .a cross plank bridging the space between and pivotally connected to said frames, connections connected to getlier at their front or inner ends and at their outer ends to the drag frames forward of the cross plank, a pair of rearwardly di'- tlie cross plank at their rear ends, carriages mounted on the drag frames land equip )ed with cutting disks inward thereof, endless chains secured to the carriages, sprocket 'wheels carried by the drag fra-nies and en- 'gaged by the front ends of the chains, sprocket wheels suitably journaled and engaged by thegrear ends of said chains, and means forv turning the last-named sprocket Wheels to operate the chains and longitudinally adjust the carriages. l

1.2. A road grading machine comprising a`V pair of drag frames, a cross plank bridging* the space between and pivotallyconnected to lsaid frames, connections connected Atogether at theirfront ori-nner ends and at their outer ends to the drag frames forward of the cross plank, a pair of rearwardly diverging cables connected at their front ends to the inner ends ofthe connections and to the cross plank at vtheir rearends, carriages mounted on the drag frames andequip ed lwith cutting disks inward thereof, an end ess chain secured to the carriages, spro'cket wheels carried b v the drag frames and engagedby the front ends of the chains, sprocket wheels suitably journaled and engaged by thc rear ends of the chains, and a worin gearingfor turning the last named sprocket wheels to operate .the chain and longitudinally ad# just the carriages.

lIn testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT o. REDPATH.

Witnesses:

H. C. RoDGEns, G. Y. 'DHoRPn verging cables connected at their front ends l-.to the inner ends of the connections and to 

